Hair straightening and drying device

ABSTRACT

Described are hair styling devices and methods. A hair straightening and drying device includes a hair blow dryer integrated into a flat iron and operable to dry damp hair placed within the flat iron. A hair straightening and drying device can include a handle portion housing a motorized fan, opposing distal arms housing heatable surfaces coupled to heating elements and at least one distal portion housing an air duct configured to receive air from the motorized fan and to channel the air to the hair that is being styled, and a hinge that provides for rotation of the distal portions in relation to the handle portion and each other. The motorized fan creates a pressure gradient causing air to flow into an air duct enclosed in one of the distal portions and the air is dispersed through openings in the duct onto hair that is being styled and dried. Each distal portion houses a heatable surface that is heated by a heating element. The opposing heatable surfaces are closed around strands of hair to straighten the hair. In this manner, damp hair is straightened and blown dry at the same time creating time efficiencies and allowing for certain styling techniques.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/097,138, entitled “Hair Straightening and Drying Device,” filed Sep. 15, 2008. Priority of the filing date of Sep. 15, 2008, and the disclosure of the provisional patent application is hereby fully incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Conventional techniques for drying and straightening hair are time-consuming and at times technically demanding. A hair blow dryer is a device that is used to dry hair by blowing heated air over strands of hair causing the moisture on the hair to evaporate. Hair dryers can be difficult to use by an individual, especially a person that desires to straighten their hair while it dries. A flat iron is a device that is used to straighten hair and typically include two arms that extend outward in the same direction from a single base. The arms are typically positioned opposite one another and each contain a plate that can be heated to high temperatures. Hair is straightened by closing the heated plates around selected strands of hair and breaking with heat the hydrogen bonds that were responsible for the bends in the hair. The hair will thus remain straight until these hydrogen bonds are allowed to reform, usually from exposure to moisture. Flat irons known in the art are not effective on wet or damp hair and thus, require the time-consuming step of completely drying the strands of hair using, for example, a hair dryer prior to use.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, disclosed is a hair styling tool for damp hair includes a handle portion having a motorized fan; first and second opposed arms each having a heatable surface; an air duct extending through at least one of the first and second opposed arms; and a hinge element coupled at a first region to the handle portion and at a second region to each of the first and second opposed arms. The air duct receives air from the motorized fan and channels air out of at least one of the first and second opposed aims.

The heatable surface can deliver heat to strands of damp hair placed between the first and second opposed arms. The hinge element can rotate the first and second opposed arms in relation to the handle portion and in relation to each other. The heatable surface can be a flat aluminum plate or a flat ceramic plate. The handle portion and the first and second opposed arms can be coupled by the hinge element such that an angle between one of the first and second opposed arms and the handle portion is greater than 180 degrees. The air duct can also include a main air duct coupled to two opposing air ducts. The two opposing air ducts can be housed adjacent and on opposite sides of one of the heatable surface. The two opposing air ducts can include openings through which the air from the motorized fan is channeled onto strands of hair placed between the first and second opposed arms. The tool can also include a heating element housed in each of the first and second opposed arms that deliver heat to the heatable surfaces. At least one of the heating elements can be housed in close proximity to the air duct to deliver heat to the air as it passes through the air duct. The tool can further include an electrical cord coupled to the motorized fan and the heating elements to deliver electricity to the motorized fan and the heating elements. The tool can further include a swivel element coupled to the electrical cord that allows a user to turn the handle portion without also turning the electrical cord. The handle portion can further include air intake openings adjacent the motorized fan to allow air to pass into the fan and through the air duct. The handle portion can further include air filters are coupled to the handle portion to filter the air entering through the air intake openings. The motorized fan can pull air from the air duct such that the air duct channels air from at least one opening in the air duct located in close proximity to strands of hair placed between the first and second opposed arms to the motorized fan.

Also disclosed is a method of styling damp hair. The method includes providing a tool having a handle portion enclosing a motorized fan and coupled to first and second opposed arms, wherein at least one arm comprises a heatable surface and an air duct. The method also includes heating the heatable surface; placing strands of damp hair between the first and second opposed arms; channeling air through the air duct; approximating the first and second opposed arms such that the strands of damp hair are clamped between the first and second arms; and pulling the hair through the approximated first and second opposed arms, wherein the hair is straightened as it is dried.

The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration representing a hair straightening and drying device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a handle portion of the hair straightening and drying device;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a lower distal portion of the hair straightening and drying device;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an upper distal portion of the hair straightening and drying device; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a hinge element coupling the upper and lower distal portions to the handle portion of the hair straightening and drying device.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a hair straightening and drying device for wet or damp hair that includes a hair blow dryer integrated into a flat iron and operable to dry hair placed within the flat iron. A hair straightening and drying device can include a handle portion housing a motorized fan, opposing distal arms housing heatable surfaces coupled to heating elements and at least one distal portion housing an air duct configured to receive air from the motorized fan and to channel the air to the hair that is being styled, and a hinge that provides for rotation of the distal portions in relation to the handle portion and each other. The motorized fan can create a pressure gradient causing air to flow into or out of an air duct enclosed in one of the distal portions and the air is dispersed through openings in the duct onto hair that is being styled and dried. Each distal portion houses a heatable surface that is heated by a heating element. The opposing heatable surfaces can be closed around strands of hair to straighten the hair while the air flows over the hair to dry it. In this manner, hair is straightened and blown dry at the same time creating time efficiencies and allowing for certain styling techniques.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a hair straightening and drying device 100 including a handle portion 110 coupled to a distal portion having a lower arm 120 and an upper arm 130 extending from a hinge element 140.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view 200 of a handle portion 110. The outer casing of the handle portion 110 can include an upper fan cover 210 attached to a lower fan base 220. The handle portion 110 can enclose a motorized fan 240 having a motor 235 coupled to a fan element 245. As shown in FIG. 2, a wall element 250 can separate the fan element 245 from the motor 235 while still allowing for the coupling of the motor 235 and the fan element 245. A main air duct 270 can be positioned opposing the wall element 250 and receive air from the motorized fan 240. The upper fan cover 210 and lower fan base 220 can each include air intake openings 215 located generally over the area where the fan element 245 is housed. An air filter 225 can be attached to the handle portion 110 over the air intake openings 215 such that the air filter 225 filters the air entering the handle portion 110 of any large particles that could damage the fan element 245. It will be appreciated that the motorized fan 240 can be any type of device capable of inducing air flow.

The motor 235 can be coupled to an electrical cord 230 and receive electrical power therefrom. A swivel 260 can be provided that allows for the rotation of the handle portion 110 without requiring the electrical cord 230 to rotate also.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view 300 of the lower arm 120. The outer casing 310 of the lower arm 120 can include a bottom element 310 that can be coupled on a proximal portion to a cover element 320 and that can be further coupled on a distal portion to a bracket element 340. When assembled, the outer casing 310 can enclose the main air duct 270 in a proximal portion (the portion closest to the handle member 110) coupled to two opposing air ducts 370 in a distal portion. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the main air duct 270 can receive air from the motorized fan 240 on its proximal end. On its distal end, the main air duct 270 can be coupled to the two opposing air ducts 370 such that the air from the motorized fan 240 can flow into the two opposing air ducts 370 in generally equal ratios. The proximal portions of the two opposing air ducts 370 can be at an approximate forty-five degree angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the main air duct 270. The distal portions of the two opposing air ducts 370 can be configured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main air duct 270. The main air duct 270 and the two opposing air ducts 370 can contain one or more openings 375. The two opposing air ducts 370 can be coupled to a mounting element 380, which mounting element 380 can be further coupled to the bracket element 340. In one variation, the bracket element 340 can include openings 370 that can match the openings in the two opposing air ducts 370 such that the air flowing out of the openings in the two opposing air ducts 345 can flow through the openings 375 in the bracket element. Decorative grips 315 can be attached to the bottom element 310 for aesthetic purposes and as a place for users to place their fingers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket element 340 can be coupled to a heatable surface 330. The bracket element 340 can include a well portion 341 that can house a heating element 350, such as a resistance heater or a far infrared heater, to provide heat to the heatable surface 330. The bracket element 340 can further be coupled to a thermal protective coating 360 positioned between the bracket element 340 and the bottom element 310 in order to protect the bottom element 310 from the heat that can radiate from the heating element 350. The heating element 350 can be coupled to an electrical cord 230 and receive electrical power therefrom. The heatable surface 330 can further be coupled to the cover element 320 and/or the bottom element 310.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view 400 of the upper arm 130. The outer casing of the upper arm 130 can include a top element 410 which can be coupled on a proximal portion to a cover element 420 and which can be further coupled on a distal portion to a bracket element 440. When assembled, the cover element 410 and top element 410 can enclose a control board 470. The control board 470 can be electrically coupled to the electrical cord 230, the motorized fan 240 and the heating elements 350, 450. The control board 470 can be coupled to a lens 480 that can extend through openings in the top element 410. The control board 470 and the lens 480 can be coupled to a digital screen 481 and produce a digital readout of the temperature of the heatable surfaces 430, 330 and the set point of the temperature. The control board 470 can be further coupled to buttons 485 that can extend through openings in the cover element 420. When assembled, the control board 470 and the buttons 485 can allow the user to increase or decrease the set point temperature of the heatable surfaces 430, 330, turn the motorized fan 240 on or off, and increase or decrease the flow rate of the motorized fan 240. A decorative strip 415 can be coupled to the cover element 415 and can extend out of the top element 410 for aesthetic purposes.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket element 440 can be coupled to a heatable surface 430. It will be appreciated that the heatable surfaces 330, 430 described herein can be manufactured of various materials used for heating applications such as metal, ceramic, glass or other material known in the art. The bracket element 440 and include a well portion 441 that can house a heating element 450, such as a resistance heater or a far infrared heater, to provide heat to the heatable surface 430. The bracket element 440 can further be coupled to a thermal protective coating 460 positioned between the bracket element 440 and the top element 410 in order to protect the top element 410 from the heat that may radiate from the heating element 450. Cushion elements 465 can further be positioned between the bracket element 440 and top element 410 in order to provide additional support and thermal protection. The heating element 450 can be coupled to an electrical cord 230 and configured to receive electrical power therefrom. The heatable surface 430 can further be coupled to the cover element 420 and/or the top element 410.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view 500 of a hinge element 140. The hinge element 140 can couple to the handle portion 110 at one end and to the opposed arms 120, 130 at another. The hinge element 140 can bias the opposed arms 120, 130 into the open position such that hair can be easily placed between the surfaces of the opposed arms 120, 130. A user can compress the hinge element 140 such that the opposed arms 120, 130 are approach one another and hair is held between them such as on the heating surfaces. Further, the hinge element 140 can allow the upper arm 130 and the lower arm 120 to be placed on the same longitudinal axis as the handle portion 110 or, in the alternative, as shown in FIG. 1, the hinge element 140 can allow the arms 120, 130 to be positioned at various angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion 110.

The hinge element 140 can have an axis 510 in the shape of a cylinder. Each end of the axis 510 can extend longitudinally through opposing holes located in a hinge element of the lower fan base 221, a hinge element of the bottom element 311 and a hinge element of the top element 411 with each hinge element portion 221, 311, 411 positioned next to the other in layers, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Each hinge portion 221, 311, 411 can be circular-shaped in order to allow for maximum rotation around the axis 510. A screw 520 and a washer 525 can be used at the ends of the axis 510 to secure all hinge portions 221, 311, 411 in place.

In operation, the electrical cord 230 can provide electricity to the motorized fan 240. A user can turn the motorized fan 240 on and off by pressing one of the buttons 485. The operation of the motorized fan 240 can create a pressure gradient across the fan element 245, such that air can pass through the air intake openings 215 and filter 225, through the fan element 245, through the main air duct 270, into the two opposing air ducts 370 and out through the openings in the two opposing air ducts 375 and in the bracket element 345. The air can become heated as it passes through the two opposing air ducts 370 due to the close proximity of the two opposing air ducts 370 to the heating element 350. A user can also control the flow rate of the air by pressing one of the buttons 485 to increase the spin rate of the motorized fan 240 and another of the buttons 485 to decrease the spin rate. The air can have a drying effect on wet or damp hair when the lower distal portion is placed in close proximity to the hair.

Further, the electrical cord 230 can provide electricity to the heating elements 350, 450, which can then provide heat to the heatable surfaces 330, 430. A user can control the set point temperature of the heatable surfaces 330, 430 by pressing one of the buttons 485 to increase the set point temperature and another of the buttons to decrease the set point temperature. The control board 470 can be configured to deliver electricity to the heating elements 350, 450 until the set point temperature has been achieved. The heatable surfaces 330, 430 can be opposing portions, and can straighten wet or damp hair when heated and placed in a closed position by rotating the upper and lower arms 120, 130 toward one another about the axis 510 of the hinge 140 and placing strands of hair in between the heatable surfaces 330, 430.

In another variation, the motorized fan 240 can create a vacuum that pulls air into the openings in the two opposing air ducts 370, through the main air duct 270 and through the motorized fan element 245. The air can exit through the air intake openings 215. The air can become heated as it passes in close proximity to the heatable surfaces 330, 430 and the heating element 350. In operation, the motorized fan 240 can extract moisture off the wet or damp hair placed between the two opposing arms 120, 130, and such moisture can evaporate due to the decrease in air pressure caused by the vacuum created by the motorized fan 240 and the increase in temperature due to the heating element 350.

Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, more than one distal portion may contain air ducts. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims. While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Only a few examples and implementations are disclosed. Variations, modifications and enhancements to the described examples and implementations and other implementations may be made based on what is disclosed. 

1. A hair styling tool for damp hair comprising: a handle portion comprising a motorized fan; first and second opposed arms each comprising a heatable surface; an air duct extending through at least one of the first and second opposed arms, wherein the air duct receives air from the motorized fan and channels air out of at least one of the first and second opposed arms; and a hinge element coupled at a first region to the handle portion and at a second region to each of the first and second opposed arms.
 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the heatable surface delivers heat to strands of damp hair placed between the first and second opposed arms.
 3. The tool in claim 1, wherein the hinge element rotates the first and second opposed arms in relation to the handle portion and in relation to each other.
 4. The tool in claim 1, wherein the heatable surface is a flat aluminum plate.
 5. The tool in claim 1, wherein the heatable surface is a flat ceramic plate.
 6. The tool in claim 1, wherein the handle portion and the first and second opposed arms are coupled by the hinge element such that an angle between one of the first and second opposed arms and the handle portion is greater than 180 degrees.
 7. The tool in claim 1, wherein the air duct further comprises a main air duct coupled to two opposing air ducts.
 8. The tool in claim 7, wherein the two opposing air ducts are housed adjacent and on opposite sides of one of the heatable surface.
 9. The tool in claim 8, wherein the two opposing air ducts comprise openings through which the air from the motorized fan is channeled onto strands of hair placed between the first and second opposed arms.
 10. The tool in claim 1, further comprising a heating element housed in each of the first and second opposed arms that deliver heat to the heatable surfaces.
 11. The tool in claim 10, wherein at least one of the heating elements is housed in close proximity to the air duct to deliver heat to the air as it passes through the air duct.
 12. The tool in claim 10, further comprising an electrical cord coupled to the motorized fan and the heating elements to deliver electricity to the motorized fan and the heating elements.
 13. The tool in claim 12, further comprising a swivel element coupled to the electrical cord that allows a user to turn the handle portion without also turning the electrical cord.
 14. The tool in claim 1, wherein the handle portion further comprises air intake openings adjacent the motorized fan to allow air to pass into the fan and through the air duct.
 15. The tool in claim 14, wherein the handle portion further comprises air filters are coupled to the handle portion to filter the air entering through the air intake openings.
 16. The tool in claim 1, wherein the motorized fan pulls air from the air duct such that the air duct channels air from at least one opening in the air duct located in close proximity to strands of hair placed between the first and second opposed arms to the motorized fan.
 17. A method of styling damp hair comprising: providing a tool comprising a handle portion enclosing a motorized fan and coupled to first and second opposed arms, wherein at least one of the first and second opposed arms comprises a heatable surface and an air duct; heating the heatable surface; placing strands of damp hair between the first and second opposed arms; channeling air through the air duct; approximating the first and second opposed arms such that the strands of damp hair are clamped between the first and second opposed arms; and pulling the hair through the approximated first and second opposed arms, wherein the hair is straightened as it is dried.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein air is channeled through the air duct towards the motorized fan.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein air is channeled through the air duct towards the strands of hair clamped between the first and second opposed arms. 